Partagas Series No. 1 EL 2017 unknown (VVL)

[slowsmoke]

This stick came from the 2018 xmas sampler, so not sure of box code but assume it is 2018.  It don't recall it getting very good reviews during the 12DCRC comp.  But it's my first EL, so why not.

Wrapper has a nice barnyard, it wants to be sweet/pungent, but not quite strong enough.  I get a bit of cinnamon too.  It looks tasty.  Construction seems good, draw is good, so I set it on fire.

First puffs are dry, sour wood, with a bitter finish.  The bitter turns into a sort of watered down coffee flavor.  Not bad, just weak.  Into the first third, I get some dark mineral flavors that I love in a good maduro.  But they're not taking center stage, nothing really is.  The thing keeps wanting to tunnel, so I give it a touch up.

Second third, flavors are much the same, adds a little walnut.  Occasional tannic oak, reminds me of Dominican tobacco.  I figure out that it's not trying to tunnel so much as the wrapper just wants to burn a whole lot slower than the rest of the cigar.  It seems like even the binder is burning faster, and the wrapper is bubbling up over it.  I give it a few more touch ups, which temporarily bring it back to life, but this cigar just doesn't want to play ball.

Last third, I get a few, fleeting tastes of moist dark chocolate brownie.  But they are gone as fast as they came.  At this point I'm just tired of watching the wrapper act like a wet towel.  I pitch it shortly after removing the EL band.

Even without the burn issues, this was a throughly average cigar.  None of the flavors ever really came through, and it left me craving a Secretos or a Genios.  I give it a 80-85.

[RDB]

Thanks for the review. I still have one of these from the same sampler, and my expectations are now helpfully lowered!

[99call]

Great honest review, jees! that foot looks a little empty

[Raskol]

Thanks for the honest review. Hope the next one would be great one... Nice pictures too..

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[Chucko8]

Shame it didn't work out too well for you there mate. I've only tried 1 of these myself mid last year. I didn't find it to be overly flavorful and young in taste. Still have the rest of the box to try at some stage. Though will leave it for a bit still I feel.